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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
No review (not in the mood) but a few words of impression:
selkies
death
misery
confusion
love
secrets
mistaken manner of dealing with a rainbow child
tattoos to help deal with life
mythologies from the First People of Lutruwita (Tasmania), Denmark and the Faroe Islands
I read this book in one day. I don’t usually read anything other than scifi or horror but I stumbled upon the author after watching ‘the lost flowers of Alice hart’.
Okay, the negatives; this book is long. Did it need to be this long? Possibly not. Some scenes were a little pointless, albeit charming.
The rest is all positive. The writing is lovely, the world building is fabulous. There are some sections of prose that I’ve taken note of because it spoke to me so deeply. Oddly, I found this book exactly when I needed to read it.
A quote ; ‘apathy is the easy choice and no one can make the hard choice for you. Want it, want it more. The abstract, the strange, the large, the small, the beautiful, the mysterious, the pain, the loss, the grief, the discovery, the freedom, the joy… want it, choose it or accept confinement of your own making. Accept your cage.’
Okay, the negatives; this book is long. Did it need to be this long? Possibly not. Some scenes were a little pointless, albeit charming.
The rest is all positive. The writing is lovely, the world building is fabulous. There are some sections of prose that I’ve taken note of because it spoke to me so deeply. Oddly, I found this book exactly when I needed to read it.
A quote ; ‘apathy is the easy choice and no one can make the hard choice for you. Want it, want it more. The abstract, the strange, the large, the small, the beautiful, the mysterious, the pain, the loss, the grief, the discovery, the freedom, the joy… want it, choose it or accept confinement of your own making. Accept your cage.’
I loved this book and it made me really happy reading it. A slow start and perhaps could have been a bit shorter, but once it got going I really loved it. One plot line I don’t love, but otherwise really enjoyable.
slow-paced
I found it so boring and struggled to finish. The pacing was slow and it took so long for something to start happening (travel to Denmark). Then Esther was directionless and repeating all her Australian bad decisions in Denmark (ons). Everybody kept so many secrets from her and nobody told her anything straight up. I'm sure the swan had literary significance but I didn't care enough.
You might enjoy the book if you like stories about sisterhood and spiritual? journeys.
You might enjoy the book if you like stories about sisterhood and spiritual? journeys.
This is a book that I’ll remember and call upon during times of doubt for years to come. It resonated with me and meant so much to me. I can’t recommend enough.
“Everything I've wanted most in life has been on the other side of finding the courage to ask for the help I need.”
“There's a point between things where science and art connect, but, beyond that, everything is one big unknown mystery. Which none of us cope with. But it gives me hope. Because it means for better and worse anything is possible. That's beauty. That's joy. I will grieve for Kristina for the rest of my life. But, one day, I know I'm also going to laugh again antil I pee a little bit. And I'm going to make art I cannot ever dream of yet. And I am loving people. My friends. My students. And my family. Like the one who shows up at my door from the other side of the world with her heart in her mouth like a little bird, building her nest.”
“There's a point between things where science and art connect, but, beyond that, everything is one big unknown mystery. Which none of us cope with. But it gives me hope. Because it means for better and worse anything is possible. That's beauty. That's joy. I will grieve for Kristina for the rest of my life. But, one day, I know I'm also going to laugh again antil I pee a little bit. And I'm going to make art I cannot ever dream of yet. And I am loving people. My friends. My students. And my family. Like the one who shows up at my door from the other side of the world with her heart in her mouth like a little bird, building her nest.”
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found the pace a bit too slow and that the author tried to fit too much in but otherwise I enjoyed reading it. Was a nice reflection on sisterhood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide
Minor: Self harm, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this book. Full of heart, full of emotion. I cried a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i really wanted to like this but it felt so slow and repetitive and could have been at least half as long. i just kept getting so irritated with being told the same thing five times over and ended up just reading dialogue for the last 60 pages to try and speed up the reading process. 2 stars feels too generous but at the same time i don’t think it deserves lower. don’t even get me started on the sophus storyline.